San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-01-13
A New sketch of SAN Marcos.

The industrial Alliance" has gone the
way Of many other newspaper enterprises
at Austin. The editor, Mr.. Pryor, Ind no.
tees of his iisi: to Science Hall, Kyle and
san Marcos in type when the paper sus'
pended aud sent proofs of the same TO u
friend at this place. We copy his hand
some ne count of our town. -Epl,
Arriving ut San Marcos late l. the after
noon, We proceeded to use the little time
left Us, in visiting 1.-THE lions" o. the place
the camp. ground of the Texas ChauIauqua,
aud the world'famous San Marcos spring
or rather, grand collection of springs
The Chantauqua, with its great speaking
stand, is located ON an eminence overlook
| ing the Big Spring, and though, OF course,
bare OF tenants now, was, we were told,
we'll filed and greatly enjoyed during the
past summer, and is without doubt admir-
ably suited, from its high and bre ~ posi-
ton, is bo,ky dolls, bubbling fountains and
rippling Streams, for the pleasant social,
educational, and health-improying purposes,
TO which il is devoted.
Obtaining boat, Mr.. Mann invited us TO
enter, and gave us n sail over the pelluoid
waters of the Springs of st, Mark. 1t was
then that we discovered why II was that the
outside world has so incomplete and incor-
rect an idea OF what manner of place the
Great Spring really is. We found that the
wonderful limpidness of the water and the
beauty of the vari-ctlored grasses, brilliant
white flowers, and sparkling sands from
v hich the water bubbles up, and over
which it flows, are simply indescribable. 1t
is wen impossible for the most gifted paint
err to put it upon canvass--you can only sail
over and enjoy it, by constantly looking
down into its ribbon-waNing, silver-flashing,
diamond. studded depths. Never saw we
such perfecllynni beautifully pellucid wa
ter before-never so many fountains gush-
ing mp from the great depths, and, like vast
gems of beauty, at random strung along the
San Marcos for hundreds Of yards up TO the
very head, where from under the rocks
other matchless founts poured forth their
copious streams of matchless lymph!
Our companion, who is famous talker,
and always talks well and to the point in
formed MS that these beauteous waters were
teemng with fish and turtle and ''water
chickens" q. G. edible frogs, but, as they
were hidden under the immense beds OF
grasses and water-cresses that grow up
from the bottom, we saw only q few turtles.
BY the by, those water-cres5es were delic-
ious-or, would have been, with little salt
and phenomenal in extent; II looked to us
like there were enough there TO furnish
every hotel in the State with a daily sup
ply.
Returning to the city, we found that We
were too tired, and it was too late, to do
more than pay our respects TO the etltJr of
the San Mtroos FREE Pass ut his snctdm.
We saw, however, that San Marcos was full
of life and business and considerable trade |
seemed TO be going On in merchandise, as
well as in tho staple products of the sur |
rounding region, which is generally very
fertile. The Court House is II handsome
white stone structure; there are number |
of fine business houses on the public square;
and we were told that there were many very
handsome private residences; but by this
time it was too dark for us to see them. An |
hour or so later the train came along, and
brought u back home in time for II good |
nights rest.